Union warns it will fight public sector pension reform

The largest civil service union today warned the government it risks a confrontation with 5 million public sector workers if it goes ahead with plans to change their pensions.

The threat of action by workers including nurses, fire fighters and teachers came from Mark Serwotka, who is general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, at its annual conference in Brighton.

Mr Serwotka also warned that his union had not ruled out further industrial action in protest at government plans to slash up to 100,000 public sector jobs. This follows its November 5 2004 walk-out which led to the closure of benefit offices, driving test centres and museums.

The union leader said he was sceptical about a pre-election promise by the government to offer fresh talks about its proposals to increase the retirement age of public sector workers from 60 to 65 and to change their pension entitlement.

He told the conference that if the promise proved to be a "pre-election manoeuvre" he would work to involve 30 trade unions representing 5 million workers in protests against the government.

Mr Serwotka said: "The massive show of support on November 5 as up to 200,000 stayed away from work showed that people are ready and willing to make a stand - to stand up for their jobs and the services they deliver.

"But November 5 wasn't the end of the campaign, but merely the beginning."

He said although the union might have "meaningful engagement" with the government it was running the risk of losing the confidence of its civil service workforce because of massive job cuts, low pay and outsourcing of public sector services.

He told delegates: "Key government reforms are in real danger of failing and large sections of its own workforce, faced with growing job insecurity and continuing low pay, have or are on the verge of losing confidence in the government as an employer."

The warnings from the PCS will make gloomy reading for the government which faces continued confrontation from public sector unions on two fronts - job cuts and pensions.

In April, just days before the general election campaign was announced, the government agreed to meet public sector unions in an attempt to find a workable solution to the row over its proposals to change the pension package for the public sector.

The meeting came a week after local government and civil service unions called off planned strike action.